UNDIP, Semarang (10/4) – Amid growing public attention to the importance of Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) for students, Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP) has, since 2022, implemented the UNDIP Food Truck Program for underprivileged students. This initiative reflects the university’s commitment to providing healthy meals that support students’ productivity and learning motivation.
UNDIP’s commitment to meeting students’ nutritional needs predates current policy trends. The Rector of Universitas Diponegoro, Prof. Dr. Suharnomo, S.E., M.Si., stated that this program represents a concrete form of the university’s support for its students.
“While free nutritious meals are widely discussed today, UNDIP actually initiated this effort back in 2022 through the Food Truck program, which distributes free nutritious meals to students in need,” he explained.
He added that UNDIP allocates approximately IDR 6 billion annually to ensure the program runs sustainably and reaches students requiring financial support. With strong production capacity, the UNDIP Food Truck kitchen prepares around 1,850 lunch portions per day, totaling approximately 450,000 meals per year.
The program’s strength lies in its professionally managed production process by an internal catering unit. Kristi Febi Nugrahaningrum, Manager of Aroemanis Catering (PT UNDIP Maju), explained that all food preparation is conducted in accordance with strict hygiene standards.
“Our kitchen operates from Sunday to Thursday. A professional team is involved in every stage—from food preparation and ingredient selection to menu planning that meets healthy and nutritious standards,” she said.
To maintain ingredient quality, the team prepares monthly menus and coordinates with suppliers who deliver fresh ingredients the day before cooking. Meals are prepared in stages by experienced chefs, ensuring balanced nutrition for students that includes vegetables, protein, and carbohydrates.
Quality control and distribution are also key priorities. The Director of Student Affairs and Alumni, Edy Surahmad, S.Pd., M.Si., emphasized that monitoring is ongoing to ensure that nutritional standards are met.
“We continuously monitor the nutritional composition of Food Truck meals to ensure students receive balanced intake to support their academic activities,” he stated.
The program also provides part-time job opportunities for students. Amanda Herbudiarti and Yonathan Gutom Prayoga, students from the Faculty of Economics and Business, shared that working as field crew members provides them with valuable experience in the food and beverage (F&B) sector while also allowing them to support fellow students and build networks across faculties.
Meanwhile, beneficiaries such as Hassya Marella Istanto from the Faculty of Engineering expressed appreciation for the menu variety—ranging from dory fish dishes to beef—which helps meet daily nutritional needs while studying away from home.
In addition to the main campus in Tembalang, the Food Truck program is also implemented at UNDIP campuses in Pekalongan, Jepara, Rembang, and Batang regencies, and is managed by the respective units. The UNDIP Food Truck program demonstrates the university’s strong commitment to recognizing students as key pillars of the educational process. More than just assistance, it reflects UNDIP’s humanitarian values and social responsibility, aligned with its spirit of ‘Noble and Valuable UNDIP’. (Public Communication/UNDIP/Riri)
